Cosmetic chemicals and early puberty

After listening to other mothers talk of their own children I’ve realised that puberty is starting as young as nine years old and looking upon recent studies, it has shown, that when girls (especially) go through early puberty they are more likely to suffer from abdominal pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, mental health issues and eating disorders. If it isn’t enough that they have to go through massive changes at this period of their life, that they get bombarded with extra chemicals that their body has to fight off, but we can help them with this burden. Research has shown that these particular chemicals are of concern and should be avoided where possible.The chemicals to watch out for are:– Phthalates “fragranced” products like Shampoo, Soaps, Body sprays anything that has the word fragrance or perfume. It is an endocrine disrupter and can affect fertility in boys.– Triclosan is found in toothpaste, mouthwash, antibacterial hand soaps, deodorant, antiperspirant and shaving cream. Triclosan is an endocrine disrupter and has a connection with low sperm count and poorer semen. – Bisphenols are found in packaging and containers and leech into foods and products. Bisphenols imitate the body’s hormones and interfere with your own natural hormones.– Parabens are harsh preservatives that can be found in Shampoos, conditioner, cleanser, lotions and cosmetics. Parabens are an endocrine disrupter and mimic estrogens in the body.

The simplest way to lessen the toxic load on a daily basis is to look for products that state

No Parabens No artificial Fragrances No Phthalates No mineral oils No petroleum No DEANo Formaldehyde/ Methylene glycol

These are the simplest chemicals to start with and won’t be too overwhelming and will definitely help reduce the stress on your body. So I recommend writing down these 7 chemicals and keeping it in your phone to cross reference it when out shopping. Overtime you’ll get an understanding of what products to skip and which ones are okay. Keep in mind products you use everyday like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, face creams and soaps…products your skin absorbs into your bloodstream.